Integrating Screencasting to Support Teaching and Learning

Goals

• Participants in this session will learn to use an online applet to create screencasts that can be incorporated into a platform as a teaching resource.

Outcomes

At the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Identify tools that can be used to create screencasts
• Organize a storyboard or template in preparation for a screencast
• Create a screencast with acceptable video and audio

Questions to Consider

1. How can you use a screencast to instruct?
2. What are the essential elements of a screencast?
3. What are the limitations of a screencast? How might you overcome these limitations

Tools for Screencasting

Online tools

• Screencast-O-Matic (15 minute limit)
• Sceenr.com (5 minute limit)

Software

• Pixetell (Free Software)
• Apple Quicktime (For Mac Owners)
• Jing (Free Software) (Requires a username; requires Pro Version for webcam)
• CamStudio (Free Software)(Does not work well with webcam/video)
• SMART Recorder (Part of SMARTboard Tools; does not work well with webcam/video)
• Camtasia (Professional Screencasts)

Helpful Hardware

• USB microphone (if computer microphone gives poor quality)
• USB webcam (if one is not built into your computer)

Activity 1: Exploring Different Screencasts

Below are the same 2-minute video created by 2 or 3 different programs that you could use. Additional information is included about each created video. Watch each video, read the additional information, and consider the following questions.

1. What are strengths of this screencast tool?
2. What are weaknesses of this screencast tool?
3. Of these three, which screencast tool would best meet my needs for teaching?

SCREENCAST TOOL1 Change Name to actual Tool nameINSERT YOUR SCREEN CAST

• Video Location: Insert link to video
• File size: Insert file size information along with length of video
• Insert any Webcam information
• Insert information on any editing options
• Insert information any options for saving

SCREENCAST TOOL2 Change Name to actual Tool nameINSERT YOUR SCREEN CAST

• Video Location: Insert link to video
• File size: Insert file size information along with length of video
• Insert any Webcam information
• Insert information on any editing options
• Insert information any options for saving

SCREENCAST TOOL3 Change Name to actual Tool nameINSERT YOUR SCREEN CAST

• Video Location: Insert link to video
• File size: Insert file size information along with length of video
• Insert any Webcam information
• Insert information on any editing options
• Insert information any options for saving

Activity 2: Recreating a Screencast

During this activity, you are going to recreate the following screencast. All necessary materials are below.

1. Watch my video to see what you will be creating
2. Download all the necessary materials
3. Open all necessary materials and the screencast tool. Close all other windows.
4. Practice twice!
5. Record and save your screencast.
6. Upload and link you screencast.

• Insert a video or that shows how to do this for the specific place your teachers will be expected to save such files

Topic: Choose a content-specific topic
Materials

1. Script: Insert a linkable script. It does not need to be verbatim
2. Material 1: Insert any files or website links teachers will need
3. Material 2: Insert any files or website links teachers will need.
4. Add more material lines if necessary

Video
Insert your video that teachers will recreate
Share your Recreated Screencast!
Insert a location where can share their hyperlinks

Activity 3: Creating a Screencast

During this activity, you are going to create your own screencast.

1. Determine the topic for which you wish to create a screencast
2. Create a script. Open any files, programs, or windows you may need for your screencast. Close everything else.

• If the process is complex, break it down into smaller, shorter videos
• Try to keep your videos around 10 minutes.
• If you are considering video lectures, click here for more information. This method site uses flip cams and miniature whiteboards for the video lectures, but concepts of flipping the classroom are fully explained.
• Practice before recording!
• Insert a video that shows how to do this for the specific place your teachers will be expected to save such files

1. Determine the best screencast tool for you.
2. Open the screencast tool. Check all the settings!
3. Record and save your screencast.
4. Upload and link your screencast.

Share Your ScreenCast

Insert a place where teachers can share a link to their video